Project highlights farming as career choice for young people

JOBS: Campaign aims to raise profile of industry through work experience

A new opportunity for young people to gain work experience in the food, farming and wider rural world has been launched by Highland Show organisers, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS).

The move chimes with comments in the final report by the Scottish Government’s Agriculture Champions, which said farming needs to be seen by more young people as a career option.

The initiative, Jobfarm Scotland, offers one or two weeks of unpaid work experience, and will initially only apply to people aged 16 and over in the Lothians. But organisers hope to extend it to other parts of Scotland in order to raise awareness of the range of careers on offer on arable and stock farms, in scientific establishments, as tractor mechanics, in gamekeeping, farm shops, cafes, butcheries, and agritourism.

Roles currently featured include agricultural scientist, shepherd, farm secretary, agronomist, forester, equestrian, and rural planner.

RHASS president, Sir Crispin Agnew said farming had lost touch with a generation of young people and it was vital for agricultural, food and related rural industries to be seen as attractive modern work and career opportunities for young Scots.

“Young people are reluctant to come in to farming so we are trying to challenge that and provide information and develop links to the agricultural industry,” he said. The project can be found at www.jobfarm.org

Picture: Chris Watt. At the Jobfarm Scotland launch were, from left, RHASS chairman Jimmy Warnock, ambassadors Lynsey Melville and Ben Lowe and Sir Crispin Agnew.